What’s on? Top 10 TV and streaming tips for Saturday

There’s Australian crime drama High Country, the All-Ireland Football semi-final between Armagh and Kerry, Alan Carr’s Changing Ends returns, and there’s an Aretha Franklin double-bill on the Beeb . . .

Pick of the Day

High Country, 9.10pm, BBC One

This crime drama is set in Australia’s alpine region, the Victorian High Country and stars Leah Purcell, Sara Wiseman, Ian McElhinney and Pez Warner.

City detective Andie Whitford (Purcell) is back in uniform for a fresh start in a remote community, only to be troubled by a number of disappearances in the area.

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Meanwhile, the teenage daughter of her partner Helen (Wiseman) is more concerned with the thought of being stuck there.

Episode two follows at 10.20pm, after the news and weather.

When a local goes missing, Andie Whitford alienates people by involving ostracised ‘psychic’ suspect Damien (Henry Nixon).

Elsewhere, Helen’s accountancy leads to a creative arrangement with Rose (Linda Cropper).

New or Returning Shows

Changing Ends, 9.00pm, UTV

It’s the return of the semi-autobiographical comedy about Alan Carr’s early life, starring Oliver Savell.

As season 2 begins, it’s 1987 and Northampton Town are leading Division 4 – but the bullies are still making Alan’s life a misery.

Meanwhile peer pressure forces him to accept a challenge, leading him into the murky world of fake IDs.

In part two at 9.30pm, the Close has a problem with knickers being snatched from washing lines and windows being peeped into, so Alan eagerly decides to play detective, even if it clashes with his 12th birthday.

Don’t Miss

Aretha Franklin at the BBC, 9.10pm, BBC Two

An Aretha double-bill opens with a collection of archive appearances by her on the BBC.

Featuring a stunning 2015 performance of You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman) that had the then US president Barack Obama in tears, plus gems from the 1970s when Aretha dropped in to be the guest star on shows hosted by Cliff Richard and Lulu.

These songs – and her voice – demonstrate why she remains considered as the ultimate queen of soul.

That’s followed at 9.50pm by Aretha Franklin in Amsterdam 1968, a performance recorded at the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam on Sunday April 28,1968.

Aretha sings a selection of hits, including Respect, Chain of Fools and Satisfaction.

New to Stream

Anyone But You, Sky Cinema Premiere

Director Will Gluck’s romantic comedy based on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, starring Euphoria’s Sydney Sweeney and face-of-the-moment Glen Powell.

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They play Bea and Ben, who enjoy an incredible first date, but the attraction quickly burns out and they are delighted to be apart.

Then fate compels the duo to reconsider, and they seize the opportunity to attend a lavish wedding in Australia, as a couple.

The pair pretend to be deliriously in love during the once-in-a-lifetime trip and keep up appearances in front of other guests.

Saturday Cinema

Spartacus, 1.15pm, RTÉ One

Old school swords ‘n’ sandals classic from 1960. Just the thing if you fancy an afternoon on the sofa. It’ll be Christmas by the time the end credits roll.

Stanley Kubrick’s epic stars Kirk Douglas (below), Tony Curtis, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton and Peter Ustinov, who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as oily Roman businessman Lentulus Batiatus.

As for the story, it follows a slave trained to fight as a gladiator who turns against his masters and leads an army of rebels in a fight for freedom against the Roman state.

But as the rebellion gathers momentum, two senators do all they can to exploit the uprising for their own political ends.

The King’s Man, 9.00pm, Channel 4

Action-adventure prequel, starring Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans and Harris Dickinson.

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Haunted by the death of his wife Emily, the Duke of Oxford is an ardent pacifist, who has established a network of servant spies coordinated by his housekeeper Polly to relay intelligence that will prevent conflicts around the world.

When a shadowy mastermind known as the Shepherd orders the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand, the Duke rallies his troops including right-hand-man Shola and his headstrong 17-year-old son Conrad.

Still Alice, 10.15pm, TG4

If you’re looking for a fun Saturday night, you won’t get it here. It’s still pretty good though.

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This is a pretty downbeat drama, starring an Oscar-winning Julianne Moore, with Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart and Kate Bosworth.

Shortly after celebrating her 50th birthday, a renowned linguistics professor begins suffering from memory loss and is eventually diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

As her family attempts to come to terms with the news, her debilitating symptoms start to take control of her life.

Family Flick

Mirror Mirror, 6.35pm, RTÉ One

Fantasy about Snow White, starring Julia Roberts, Lily Collins and Armie Hammer.

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A princess is banished to a dark forest after the death of her father, leaving her wicked stepmother to rule over the kingdom.

The exiled aristocrat joins forces with a band of rebellious dwarfs to reclaim her father’s throne and stop the evil queen seducing the prince she is in love with.

Sport

The Saturday Game Live, 2.45pm, RTÉ2

Joanne Cantwell presents coverage of the All-Ireland Football semi-final and the Tailteann Cup final at Croke Park.

Down face Laois at 3pm in the latter game, with Down looking to go one better than last year, when they lost to Meath in the showpiece match, while Laois’ semi-final victory over Antrim has given them their first appearance in this final.

Following that, there’s Armagh v Kerry (Throw-in 5.30pm) in the All-Ireland Football semi-final, also at GAA HQ.

Armagh defeated Roscommon in the quarter-finals, while last season’s runners-up Kerry prevailed against Derry, and both teams will have high hopes of going all the way in their search for Sam.

Wimbledon 2024, 1.15pm, BBC One

Clare Balding presents coverage of the 13th and penultimate day of the tournament, as the ladies’ singles final takes centre-stage at the All England Club.

The men’s doubles final is due to follow on Centre Court.

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